RIP, Johnny Pesky: Everybody’s Grandpa

Holy shit. Word is that Johnny Pesky, everybody’s grandpa and a fixture in the Red Sox organization for as long as I can remember, has passed away at 92.

As I’ve said many times, there are three ways to get me to cry: kick me square in the nuts, make me watch the final scene of “Field of Dreams” or show me any photos of Johnny Pesky from the night the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series. Experiencing the delirium of that evening through his eyes made it an even more wondrous experience.

We’ve lost one of the great ones today. And suddenly, a season that seemed lost has purpose: Win it for Johnny. Or at least try to.

He was the bridge from my dad's Red Sox to my Red Sox. Every time I see an official 2004 World Series baseball he signed with the words "Ted, we did it!" inscribed I am overcome with emotion. He loved his teammates and he loved his team. I hope he had a good idea as to just how much the fans of his team loved him, because it was a helluva lot.

Johnny Pesky was awesome, his stories were my favorite part of working at Fenway Park from 1994-1999. Johnny Pesky would also want me to give Red and Denton shit for the Christian Mingle banner advertisement. That is all.